Dashain ticket booking opened: This year, the number of people leaving Kathmandu may be reduced, buses will be added if needed
Parbati Bhandari, Nepal News Bank
Kathmandu. KATHMANDU — Queues of passengers have started appearing at the counters after the opening of advance ticket booking for public transport targeting the Dashain festival.
As per the decision of the Government of Nepal, the Department of Transport Entrepreneurs of Nepal has opened the advance ticket booking of public transport. Passengers have been continuously buying tickets at the New Bus Park in Gongabu since 6 am.
Although the number of passengers leaving the valley for Dashain has started increasing, the number of passengers is expected to be slightly less this year compared to last year. Although there is a pressure of passengers at the bus park, it is not as crowded as in previous years.
Dilli Raj Bhusal, in-charge of the Kathmandu branch of Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs Pvt Ltd, said that the number of passengers is comparatively less as Friday is the day for the office to open. He said that the number of passengers is expected to increase further on Saturday and Sunday.
He said that although the number of passengers will be less this year compared to the previous year, it will be difficult to get the exact figure on the first day. He said that the actual pressure of passengers will be clear in the next two days.
He said, “There is not much pressure. There is no such pressure because the offices are open days. I think the pressure will increase on Saturday and Sunday. I don’t think people will go this year compared to last year. It is difficult to get that figure on the first day exactly.”For the convenience of the passengers, arrangements have been made to buy tickets online and directly from the bus park,” he said. He said that the arrangement has been made in such a way that half of the passengers come online and half the passengers come to the bus park.
According to Bhusal, tickets are being sold by mobilizing three to four employees according to the pressure of passengers. He said that additional vehicles are being arranged as per the need and vehicles will be added in the coming days depending on the pressure of passengers.
He said that there is no shortage of vehicles inside the Gongabu Bus Park. He said that there is no situation of selling tickets or sending passengers elsewhere inside the bus park and the police administration is also under strict surveillance.
He said that it would become clear from Friday which route has the highest number of passengers and accordingly the number of vehicles would be added to make the passengers travel easier. Similarly, the accident and dial in-charge of Trishiddheshwari Rapti Yatayat Pvt Ltd said that although the number of passengers returning home during the Dashain festival has increased, the transportation management towards Dang this time has been somewhat easier and systematic than in the past years.
According to him, although there used to be problems in road and transport management for a long time in the past years, this time due to the increase in the number of passengers in a short period, arrangements have been made to take the passengers to the destination smoothly even if there is some crowd.
He said volunteers have also been mobilized to help keep passengers in line and manage the passengers. According to Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Organization, arrangements have been made to operate the buses going to Dang from 12 noon to 3:30 pm from October 11.
He also said that the fare of tickets has not been increased on the occasion of Dashain. He said that the transport entrepreneurs are committed not to charge even a single rupee more than the fixed fare of the state.
He said that there was a problem in the operation of transport as the road was blocked due to floods, landslides and rains a few weeks ago and vehicles could not reach Kathmandu. He said that the road and transport operation has improved now with the weather clearing.
According to him, at present, the vehicles leaving Dang are reaching Kathmandu at around 6 am while the vehicles left from Kathmandu are also reaching their destination on time. He said that the main reason for the delay due to floods and landslides is the condition of the road.
He said that although the ‘queue’ of new vehicles has not been added immediately considering the pressure of passengers, preparations are being made to operate more buses if needed. He said that additional buses will be operated in coordination with the office bearers of the organization if the pressure of passengers increases too much.
What do passengers say?
In the past years, it was difficult to get tickets, but this time it has become easier.
Kasam BK of Kalikot said that ticket booking and passenger management is easier this time than in the past. He said that in the past, buses used to carry more passengers than the seat capacity during Dashain, but this is not the case now.
He complained that the fares of long-distance buses are a bit expensive this time.
He said that he used to travel for around Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500 in the past but now he has to pay up to Rs 3,100.
He said that the government should take initiative to reduce the fare of public transport during Dashain to provide relief to the passengers. Similarly, Suman Thapa of Pyuthan said that it was very difficult to get a ticket to Pyuthan in the past, but this time he got a ticket up to Dang easily.
He said that during the Dashain period of last year, passengers going to Pyuthan had to buy double tickets for the same seat. He said that after not getting tickets, they have to take a bus to Dang and go to Pyuthan via Bhaluwang.
He said that this time he got the ticket to Dang easily. He said that it was easier to return home this time as arrangements can be made to go to Pyuthan from Dang.
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